Chen Ping’an set down his fishing rod and walked to Pei Qian’s side.

The old crone over there was already smiling at the gaunt little girl, her eyes filled with amusement. She raised a slender arm, and the palanquin halted abruptly. Including the skeletal swordsman, all the mountain spirits and ghouls turned to look, their aura chilling.

Chen Ping’an cupped his fist in a gesture of apology, taking the initiative to express his regrets to the wedding procession.

Birds have bird paths, rats have rat routes. Especially with the separation of Yin and Yang, the world has its order. Just like this chance encounter, if Pei Qian hadn’t broken the taboo, blatantly staring at them, then this mountain god’s wedding procession wouldn’t have paid any attention to Chen Ping’an and Pei Qian’s presence. They would have simply passed by. This is why many woodcutters and fishermen, living near mountains and lakes for generations, rarely encounter misfortune.

The old crone, seeing Chen Ping’an’s tact, nodded and waved again. The mighty wedding procession resumed its gonging and drumming, continuing on its way to welcome the mountain god’s bride.

The gaunt little girl had almost caused a major disaster, but this time Chen Ping’an didn’t blame Pei Qian. She wasn’t a cultivator, unfamiliar with cultivation rules, which was understandable. It was Chen Ping’an’s failure to educate her, not her fault. However, if Chen Ping’an had explained the principles earlier, and she still acted so recklessly, then that would be a different story.

Chen Ping’an softly asked, “Can you see them? Can you hear the gongs and drums?”

Pei Qian’s face was pale, and she nodded, “I heard the noise and woke up. I thought it was a dream. It was so scary.”

Chen Ping’an extended a finger and gently touched Pei Qian’s brow, helping to stabilize her spirit.

Once ordinary people carelessly encounter unclean Yin beings, even if they can’t see them and the entities have no intention to harm them, if the people’s own Yang energy is weak, their souls can easily become unstable, unknowingly damaging their vital essence. Many ghost stories circulating in the world, where people are possessed and fall ill, often stem from this kind of situation, a clash of Yin and Yang.

Fortunately, Pei Qian was unharmed. Chen Ping’an cautioned, “Although I don’t know why you can see them, in the future, if you encounter them again, you must act as if you don’t see or hear them. Otherwise, you can easily attract trouble, being seen as a provocation. Fortunately, tonight’s wedding procession has a relatively orthodox origin. They probably have an official-like status near this mountain, like officials in the mortal realm, so they didn’t bother with us.”

Pei Qian, still shaken, could only nod frantically.

Chen Ping’an asked, “During your years in the Nanyuan Kingdom, did you ever see wandering spirits and wild ghosts inside or outside the city?”

Pei Qian, wearing a mournful expression, shook her head vigorously, “I’ve never seen these dirty things before. Not once!”

Chen Ping’an pondered and instructed, “While traveling, whether going up mountains or down rivers, you’re not allowed to rudely call them ‘dirty things’.”

Pei Qian gave an “Oh” sound, “I’ll remember that.”

Chen Ping’an sighed and consoled, “Go back to sleep. I’ll keep watch, nothing will happen.”

Pei Qian didn’t dare to sleep anymore, insisting on following Chen Ping’an to the stream. She was completely subdued now, looking sickly and no longer daring to ask for new clothes or new shoes. She felt that being able to eat her fill while following Chen Ping’an was already the happiest thing.

Chen Ping’an picked up the fishing rod again, and Pei Qian was drawing circles on the ground with a stone. Once bitten by a snake, she was afraid of well ropes for ten years. She didn’t even dare to look up at the surroundings, feeling that those terrifying and eerie strange things were lurking in the shadows. She asked, “Does that book you gave me, saying ‘Look not at what is improper, listen not to what is improper,’ is that the same principle?”

Chen Ping’an couldn’t help but smile. It seemed that she had to experience hardship before she could learn. Although this teaching of the sages shouldn’t be interpreted that way, he didn’t want to deny the reasoning she had finally come up with from the book, so he said, “The principle behind that saying is profound. Your understanding isn’t wrong, but it’s far from enough. When you read more and learn more characters, you will naturally understand more deeply.”

Pei Qian thought that chatting more with Chen Ping’an would help suppress the fear in her heart, so she casually asked, “Then why does the book also say ‘Do not speak of strange phenomena, physical force, disorder, or spiritual beings’? You just said so many strange things, is it the sages’ principles that are wrong, or are you wrong?”

Chen Ping’an smiled slightly, “As long as you read more, you’ll know whether it’s me who’s wrong or the sages’ principles that are wrong.”

Pei Qian was a little unhappy, sulking in silence. After a long silence, she finally blurted out a question, “Can you not beat them?”

Chen Ping’an chuckled, “Since we were in the wrong first, does it have anything to do with whether I can beat them?”

Pei Qian raised her head, her eyes sparkling, “If you could beat them, you wouldn’t have to bow your head and apologize, right? They would apologize to us, actively make way for us. For example, their gonging and drumming is so loud, it’s disturbing. They should apologize to me and pay us money if they’re willing.”

Chen Ping’an asked, “Even if I could beat them, what does it have to do with you?”

Pei Qian was stunned for a moment, forcing a smile, “We’re on the same side.”

Chen Ping’an kept staring at the stream and the fishing line, as if talking to himself, “Right and wrong have no distinction between close and distant.”

From beginning to end, he hadn’t explicitly given an answer as to whether he could defeat those mountain and water gods of this area. He was afraid that if she knew the truth, she would have no more fear in her heart and act recklessly.

As for the approximate cultivation level of that mountain god waiting for his bride, Chen Ping’an had a rough idea.

Whether it was a magistrate in the secular government or a City God in charge of underworld affairs, when they went on patrol, they had retinues. One custom was to clear the way with gongs. If the rank went up, there would be more sounds. This time, because it was a wedding procession, the vast majority of the continuous clamor of gongs and drums was celebratory. The ghost messengers weren’t holding “Silence” or “Avoidance” wooden plaques, or the most prominent official title plaque. However, every so often, there were still officialdom intricacies, such as following etiquette and striking the gong nine times to clear the way. This was probably due to the facade of that “Mountain God,” showing off to the surrounding neighbors and ghosts under his jurisdiction.

This showed that the mountain god, after his death, was an official, considered a prefect. In addition to the mountain god temple and clay statues, he also had the qualification to open up his own mansion, a feudal lord of a secluded mountain and water area in both Bao Ping Continent and Tong Ye Continent, similar to the brother of that Azure-Clad Boy who served as the River God of the Royal River.

At least equivalent to the sixth realm of a Qi cultivator, perhaps even the seventh realm, the Dragon Gate realm.

As for whether Chen Ping’an could beat him, it was simple. Yu Zhenyi, even in the spiritually sparse Lotus Root Blessed Land, had cultivated to the Dragon Gate realm.
Why was Chen Ping’an willing to wager on the four painted scrolls? Beyond valuing the martial arts realms of Emperor Wei Xian, the Madman Zhu Lian, and others at that moment, he cared even more about their potential.

Indeed, Zhou Fei of the Spring Tide Palace had stated clearly that Zhong Qiu, the national teacher of Southern Garden Kingdom, had a chance to reach the ninth realm of martial arts within thirty or forty years.

The true identity of the banished immortal “Zhou Fei” was none other than the head of the Jiang clan of Jade Decree Sect, an eleventh realm Jade Purity Qi Practitioner. His judgment wouldn’t be wrong.

However, the word “chance” was far from guaranteed. After all, the path of martial arts wasn’t always smooth; one could easily die young.

Even so, Chen Ping’an’s initial decision to bet ten Grain Rain Coins on each scroll to purchase that “chance” was definitely worthwhile.

Pei Qian didn’t understand the appeal of fishing, sitting for the better part of the day without any reward. She started making conversation just to fill the silence. “Are you used to encountering so many weirdos in your hometown? Does that mean someone like me is in danger? I definitely won’t stray too far from you in the future.”

Chen Ping’an focused on fishing.

It was also a form of cultivation.

Whether a large or small fish, the slightest nibble at the bait, the subtle tremble of the fishing line, transmitted to the rod and his hand, and then the jerk of the rod to hook the fish. This wasn’t fundamentally different from facing the flowing qi of a martial artist. It only differed in the force and power involved. Skillful strength, all the mastery lay in the subtle details. Moreover, Chen Ping’an had deliberately chosen a thin bamboo rod. It was fine for fishing in streams and pools, but if he were to fish in a large river, hooking a seven or eight-pound fish, during the tug-of-war, the line could easily snap, or even the rod break, if he wasn’t careful.

This was very similar to firing ceramics back in the day, Chen Ping’an liked this familiar feeling.

Although he didn’t respond to the little girl, Chen Ping’an inexplicably thought of himself, carefully pondering, and realized that he wasn’t so different from her.

In Mud Bottle Alley, or rather, in the ignorant and unconscious Lixhu Grotto of his youth, it was like her in the capital of Southern Garden Kingdom. The dangers weren’t in the mountains, rivers, gods, monsters, immortals, or cultivators, but in daily meals, in poverty and hardship, in a random cold, in the winter’s harsh cold.

Leaving Lixhu Grotto was like her leaving Lotus Flower Blessed Land. The world was wider, but more unimaginable dangers followed, the wind and rain were greater, and people died so easily.

Their situations were similar, but their styles of conduct were vastly different.

She didn’t know how to cherish blessings. As soon as she had some copper coins, she immediately spent them lavishly. Chen Ping’an cherished every hard-earned surplus, carefully protecting it. She was fickle, her old clothes she did not miss, quickly looking to get new ones from someone else. She never felt embarrassed about receiving charity from others, even begging for favors, without any gratitude. Chen Ping’an still remembered every act of kindness and help from the residents of Mud Bottle Alley, writing them down in his heart, cautiously seeking to repay the kindness, lest he overdo it and harm the simple customs and fortunes of others.

She was lazy, unmotivated, liked to lie, and believed that she was right to do anything to survive. She chose a shortcut that seemed the easiest, but wasn’t easy in the long run. Deep down, she was full of hostility towards everything beautiful. If she couldn’t have it, she’d rather destroy it.

Pei Qian retaliated against this malicious world with her own greatest malice. She was good at reading people’s faces, keenly sensing the goodness and evil in others, but this rare gift from heaven was used to bully the weaker and flatter the strong.

Therefore, Chen Ping’an, who rarely disliked anyone, truly disliked Pei Qian.

But now that Chen Ping’an was living with her day and night, he began to observe her and look back at himself.

In Lotus Flower Blessed Land, Zhong Qiu was always worried that Yu Zhenyi would become the kind of banished immortal they hated the most.

Lu Tai once said that one cannot know good without being close to evil.

Chen Ping’an certainly didn’t want to take her with him. It was the old Daoist who had forcibly thrown her out of Lotus Flower Blessed Land. If Chen Ping’an had a choice, he would rather take Cao Qinglang. If Zhong Qiu was willing to give up his burden, Chen Ping’an would rather bring Zhong Qiu to see the scenery of the Vast World, instead of Wei Xian and Zhu Lian.

When the environment was already destined to be unchangeable, it should be the survival instinct to read, learn the local language, and the official language. She did not want to do it.

Chen Ping’an found it hard to imagine what Pei Qian would choose if he switched identities and positions with her.

Internally hating and envying Song Jixin, but outwardly depending on this wealthy neighbor? Watching Liu Xianyang being beaten to death without lifting a finger? Bullying Gu Can for fun every day? Joining everyone in the Dragon Kiln in mocking that sissy?

Flattering Mr. Qi, A Liang, and the old scholar of the Literary Temple?

But even such a “Chen Ping’an” might still have had the good fortune to meet them in the long river of time, nothing more than passing by, meeting by chance.

So Old Yao was right.

All the good fortunes and opportunities in the world are just a matter of whether one can grasp them with one’s hands. Small ones will slip through your fingers, so how can you compete for bigger ones?

But there was another “but.”

He remembered the kindness of his parents, and later firmly remembered Old Yao’s few words.

What about her?

It seemed that no one had taught her anything right.

But Chen Ping’an had taught her a lot now, yet she was still so carefree, her nature hard to change?

Chen Ping’an was a little annoyed.

When he took Li Baoping, Li Huai, and Lin Shouyi to Great Sui, and later added Cui Dongshan, Yu Lu, and Xie Xie, Chen Ping’an had never been so depressed.

Chen Ping’an put away his fishing rod.

Pei Qian, propping her cheek with her hand, asked, “Why aren’t you fishing anymore? No fish have taken the bait yet. Fish soup is so delicious, and dried fish is yummy too.”

Chen Ping’an hesitated, and finally swallowed some words back down.

He had wanted to talk to her frankly about some things, such as if Cao Qinglang were here, as long as he was willing to learn, he could generously teach him boxing, wholeheartedly teach him swordsmanship. Even if Cao Qinglang wanted to become a cultivator, he could help him. Grain Rain Coins, magical treasures, whatever he had, he could give him one by one, step by step. But you, Pei Qian, even if you have the talent for martial arts, I, Chen Ping’an, wouldn’t even want you to take another look at the six-step stances of the Mountain Shaking Fist.

Chen Ping’an remembered A Liang’s appearance that time.

And then journeying with him.
Was he also looking at himself in the same way, with eyes like his own when he looked at Pei Qian now, or at Cao Qinglang back in the courtyard?

Chen Ping’an suddenly asked her, “Want to learn how to fish?”

Pei Qian said softly, “Can I not learn? I still have to recite books and practice calligraphy every day. I’m afraid I won’t learn well what you teach.”

Chen Ping’an smiled, “If you don’t want to learn, then don’t. Go back to sleep. If there are no unforeseen circumstances, there will be a wedding procession returning later, taking the bride to see the Mountain God Lord. Remember to pretend to be asleep then. Starting tomorrow, you’ll be in charge of the bundle and the fishing rod.”

Pei Qian, thinking about those unclean things that would be passing by tonight, didn’t dare to refuse Chen Ping’an. She hesitated and returned to the tent, tossing and turning for a long time before finally falling into a light sleep.

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment and quietly pasted a calming talisman outside her tent.

About an hour later, the wedding procession carrying the bride in an eight-sedan chair returned along the same route in a lively manner. Compared to before, the fanfare had increased, and many “relatives” and mountain sprites followed behind. Some had already transformed into human forms, while others still walked through the mountains in their true forms. Among them was a jet-black spider as large as a millstone, as well as two burly apes running like the wind through the forest, and a female ghost with a face covered in blood, wearing burial clothes.

Seeing Chen Ping’an reading a book by the stream, many were tempted to act.

However, there were many ghost soldiers in the procession suppressing them, dispelling these thoughts.

Chen Ping’an suddenly stood up. In the distance, a maid holding a lantern, wearing a pomegranate skirt, floated without touching the ground. Upon seeing Chen Ping’an, she gave a graceful curtsy and said softly with a smile, “Esteemed guest, my Lord is overjoyed today. Just now, the Matron asked me to relay a message to you, inquiring if you have any interest in attending tonight’s wedding feast? Please set your mind at ease, esteemed guest, my Lord is renowned for his fairness and justice. Attending the feast will not diminish your lifespan in the slightest, and you will even receive a gift.”

Chen Ping’an shook his head and smiled, “I truly dare not disturb Lord. I hope you can convey my gratitude to the Matron for her kind invitation.”

The maid was not angered by the man’s lack of appreciation. She smiled gracefully, “Then I wish you a pleasant journey, young master. Within eight hundred *li*, if you encounter any trouble, you can invoke my Lord’s name, ‘Jin Huang’, which will ensure a smooth journey.”

Chen Ping’an smiled and cupped his hands in thanks, “Congratulations to Lord on this joyous occasion.”

The maid smiled radiantly, gracefully departed, leaving behind a lingering fragrant breeze.

The maid returned to report. After hearing that Chen Ping’an was unwilling to attend the feast, the old Matron dismissed it with a smile, only regretting that this young man had missed a great opportunity.

Her Lord was famous for his generosity. All attendees tonight could drink a cup of Orchid Brew and take away a small piece of millennium ginseng essence. Others were breaking their heads to celebrate at the mansion, yet this fellow didn’t seem to appreciate it. Oh well, it wouldn’t do to hold a knife to his neck and beg him to accept the gift.

A pale, lotus-root-like arm gently lifted the exquisitely embroidered curtain. Wearing a phoenix coronet and bridal robes, with a red veil covering her face, she looked at the old Matron outside through the red gauze.

The old Matron bowed and said with a gentle smile, “Miss, is there anything I can do for you?”

A soft, glutinous voice came through the scarlet veil, “How much longer until we stop the sedan and enter the mansion?”

She was an ordinary woman from a scholarly family. Years ago, she had a chance encounter with the Lord, who was “visiting” the county incognito, and fell in love at first sight. However, for a mortal to be properly wed by a Mountain God, it would harm her *yin* virtue and the Lord’s merit. She was devoted to him. After fulfilling her filial piety for three years, and with the Lord’s secret help, she paved a path to success for her family. Afterwards, she did not hesitate to cut her wrists and commit suicide, and then marry into the Jin Huang manor as a spirit, which could be described as proper, not presumptuous and in accordance with etiquette, so this matter was passed on as a beautiful story.

A magnificent mansion built in a mountain valley was brightly lit, with a banquet that lasted all night.

The man taking a wife wore a golden robe, his aura imposing. He sat high in the main seat, with his newlywed wife nestled beside him.

The Bone Swordsman should have held a very high position in this Mountain God’s mansion. It was a pity that it was just a skeleton and naturally could not drink wine. It stood silently under a beam of the main hall. As the Jin Huang Lord became drunk, he raised his head and glanced at the sky outside the hall, giving the Bone Swordsman a silent signal. The latter understood and nodded, leaving the main hall.

The imposing man sneered, “Everyone, the wedding wine has been drunk. Now it’s time for some people to drink a toast of punishment. This Lord has kindly treated friends, but many of you dare to collude with a third-rate lewd shrine water demon, trying to attack my Jin Huang mansion. Do you really think I’m completely ignorant?”

The gate slammed shut.

The man turned his head and smiled tenderly at his wife, patting the back of her cold hand. “Don’t be afraid.”

He smiled apologetically and lamented, “This time I’ve wronged you, turning a wedding banquet into such a mess. Alas.”

The woman was not afraid of this Mountain God husband and joked, “Could it be that I have to marry you again? Just be good to me for the next hundred or thousand years.”

The man laughed heartily. With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?

Apart from the Bone Skeleton leading a force of elite troops ready to go, there was also a group of people who were recuperating in other places. They were mostly Qi cultivators. The two armies joined forces and left the Mountain God’s mansion, which had been filled with singing and dancing a moment ago, to intercept the troops that were trying to raid the mansion at dawn. In the main hall, many of the mansion’s assistant officials and ghost soldiers, who seemed to be drunk, immediately sat up straight, took out weapons from under the table, and watched intently.

North of the Northern Jin border, there was not only a continuous mountain range, but also a vast lake known as the Eight Hundred *Li* Lake. On an island in the lake, there was a lewd shrine that was not recognized by the imperial court. It was very large and its incense was thriving. A great lake demon had established himself as a water god. The neighboring court of Northern Jin was helpless and could only let him be. For two hundred years, the Water God’s mansion and the Jin Huang mansion had been hostile to each other, with frequent conflicts, but neither had the strength to leave their own territory and exterminate the other.

This was a true mountain and water feud that could not be reconciled.

The victor would shatter the other’s golden body, destroy the temple, and cut off the incense. The loser would sink into depravity. As long as the golden body was broken and destroyed, it meant that even the afterlife would become a luxury.

Two major battles, the Jin Huang mansion’s pretense in the main hall and the confrontation outside the mountain valley, began almost simultaneously.

With the Jin Huang Lord personally overseeing the main hall, someone immediately changed course, kowtowing and begging for mercy. The fighting was scattered and the situation was one-sided.
Beyond the mountain hollow, a man adorned in golden armor, with a deep emerald robe beneath, led hundreds of lake-dwelling spirits in a battle that shook the heavens and the earth against the Mountain God’s forces.

The white-boned skeleton, bearing a rusted sword, had been a seventh-realm martial artist in life. Though deceased, his soul remained, undiminished in its ferocity. He moved through the ranks of the water demons like a phantom, unstoppable.

The Water God stood upon a grand chariot drawn by aquatic dragon-horses, brandishing an iron spear etched with ancient seals, a relic from the depths of the lake, a magical treasure of the immortals.

For centuries, it had acted with impunity, seizing and plundering as it pleased. Although its golden statue was erected a century after the Golden Jade Marquis and was not recognized by the imperial court as orthodox, its cultivation far surpassed the Marquis’. This time, taking advantage of the Mountain God’s wedding, it had courted a host of wild spirits with lavish gifts, bolstering its overall strength to decisively overwhelm its foe. Only then did it dare leave the lake, leading its army ashore, determined to utterly destroy the Golden Jade Marquis’s domain.

This struggle between the Mountain God and the Water God would hinge on who possessed the higher Dao and who had plotted further ahead.

Chen Pingan roused Pei Qian early in the morning. They hastily ate some dried rations and began their journey, deliberately skirting around the direction of the Golden Jade Marquis’s residence.

Chen Pingan leapt with the agility of an arrow onto the branch of a tall tree, surveying the scene. His expression grew grave.

Why had a Mountain God’s wedding feast devolved into such a fiery, ruthless battle?

Ten miles away, in a battlefield, a golden-armored man was unleashing spells, flooding the land. He stood atop a colossal blue carp’s back, wielding the iron spear.

The skeletal swordsman had lost an arm. Despite his desperate fight and the secret recruitment of a group of Qi refiners, he and his many Marquis retainers were losing ground against this great water demon capable of summoning wind and rain. However, the Golden Jade Marquis’s domain held a geographical advantage, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides.

A golden-robed man left the now-certainly-doomed Marquis residence’s main hall. Stepping outside, he strode forward, his form swelling in size – two zhang, three zhang, five zhang. By the time he reached the mouth of the mountain hollow, he had become a radiant golden avatar ten zhang tall. He leapt, instantly crossing the fiercely contested battlefield, and smashed a fist onto the head of the blue carp demon.

Chen Pingan ceased watching the battle, floating back to the ground. He said in a somber voice, “Let’s go.”

Pei Qian tentatively asked, “I think I heard thunder. There’s been a rumbling sound in my ears.”

Chen Pingan thought for a moment, then took out a Treasure Pagoda Demon-Suppressing Talisman that he had drawn long ago. Holding it between his fingers, he gently patted it onto Pei Qian’s head, slightly to the right, so it wouldn’t obstruct her view. He reminded her, “Just focus on the road. It won’t fall off, but don’t try to tear it off. With this, even ordinary demons and ghosts will retreat when they see you.”

Just then, a thunderous roar, like the sky splitting, echoed from the battlefield.

She was startled and shivered, her face crestfallen and her legs weak. She said with a trembling voice, “I’m scared. My legs won’t listen to me. I can’t walk.”

She was genuinely afraid of the wild ghosts and monsters she imagined would eat human flesh. This was not an act for Chen Pingan’s benefit.

Chen Pingan was somewhat helpless. He took out a Yang Energy Lamp-Lighting Talisman and gave it to Pei Qian to hold. “These two talismans are divine objects. They will definitely protect you.”

Pei Qian glanced at the Treasure Pagoda Demon-Suppressing Talisman waving before her eyes, then at the Lamp-Lighting Talisman in her hand. She sniffled, “How about you give me another one? I can hold them in both hands.”

Chen Pingan had no choice but to give her another Lamp-Lighting Talisman. Pei Qian held one in each hand, took two steps, and swayed, still lacking strength, thoroughly frightened.

Chen Pingan said, “The two talismans in your hands are worth a lot of silver. Hold them tight. The one on your forehead is even more precious, enough to buy a mansion in the capital of the Southern Garden Kingdom. If you can walk on your own, steadily following me on the road, I might consider giving you one of these.”

The scrawny little girl’s eyes welled up with tears. Her dark face was wrinkled with grievance. “No lie?”

Chen Pingan nodded.

She took a deep breath and darted off like an arrow, her arms spread wide like she was carrying buckets of water, clutching the two Yang Energy Lamp-Lighting Talismans tightly, the Demon-Suppressing Talisman still stuck to her forehead, looking quite comical.

After running for a while, she didn’t see Chen Pingan and immediately turned her head, her voice breaking with a sob, “Hurry up and run away! If we get caught, you’re bigger, they’ll definitely eat you first…”

Chen Pingan wiped his face and silently followed.

Well, the name Pei Qian (Compensation Money) wasn’t given in vain.

This time, the scrawny little girl didn’t dare slack off, running as fast as she could, without complaining of exhaustion.

Chen Pingan took out his Bundle of Yearning and hung it on his waist, mirroring the Sword Nurturing Gourd on the other side.

With his slanting satchel and fishing rod in hand, he kept pace with Pei Qian’s running, always staying beside her.

Chen Pingan wasn’t actually worried about their safety. As long as they weren’t in the center of the battlefield, there wouldn’t be any danger.

Pei Qian’s pace was hurried, her running speed sometimes fast, sometimes slow. But for the sake of survival, she seemed to be using all her wits, managing to run two or three miles on the mountain road in one go. It must be known that mountain roads were far more difficult than city streets. After that, she didn’t stop to rest, but instead, without Chen Pingan’s prodding, she began to walk, allowing herself to recover before starting to run again, repeating this pattern.

This made Chen Pingan, who was secretly observing the little girl, stare for a long time.

He had to admit, she had a good talent for martial arts.

This wasn’t the viewpoint of the Chen Pingan from the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven.

But the Chen Pingan, a fifth-realm martial artist, after killing Ding Ying.

However, cultivation was like how Ruan Qiong treated Chen Pingan back then: unless one was seen as a kindred spirit, the methods would not be lightly imparted, even a single word or phrase, and one could not become a master and disciple. Even the martial arts school next to Scholar Lane in Lotus Root Paradise, where the teaching master was not a high-level figure, would insist that if a disciple lacked martial virtue, they would never be taught profound martial arts, only enough for the disciple to earn a living.

Chen Pingan had no intention of teaching Pei Qian any martial arts at all.

If one’s character couldn’t keep up with one’s cultivation, what good would it do to learn martial arts or practice superior Daoist techniques, other than to bully others, do evil, and decide the fate of others according to one’s own whims? Yu Zhenyi wanted to kill someone just for being called a shorty. High-level figures in high positions, with a flick of their sleeves, could affect life and death for ordinary people below.
Human strength, in the end, has its limits. No matter how gifted Pei Qian was, she was still just a nine-year-old child with a frail body. After running seven or eight miles, she was utterly exhausted, unable to take another step. She stood there, wailing in sorrow, her tear-filled eyes fixed on Chen Ping’an’s white robe. Her first thought was that this fellow was surely going to abandon her.

Judging others by herself.

Pei Qian was speechless.

But she greatly feared that this person would just leave.

Chen Ping’an crouched down beside her. Pei Qian immediately clambered onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck, her face streaked with tears.

Chen Ping’an slowly walked along the forest path, softly saying, “As long as you don’t do bad things, I won’t abandon you.”

The little girl nodded vigorously. No longer needing to run on her own, she regained her courage, her spirits lifting a little. She sniffled, “Okay, from today on, I’ll be a great person.”

After saying that, she smeared her entire face on Chen Ping’an’s shoulder, back and forth twice, finally wiping away her snot and tears.

Chen Ping’an grimaced.

Taking advantage of the little girl’s temporary vulnerability, Chen Ping’an asked with a smile, “You always think I have money and want me to give you silver. Why is that? What does it matter to you whether I have money or not? Even if I had a mountain of gold and silver, why would I have to give you a single copper coin?”

The little girl said bluntly, “Of course! Why wouldn’t you give it to me? Aren’t you a good person? Giving me a few taels of silver is just like pulling a hair from your head, right? I know you’re a good person, and good people should do good deeds.”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment and changed his approach. “If you were very rich, and then one day I had no money, would you casually give me silver?”

She was silent.

*I’d like to smash you to death with silver ingots.*

*And pick up every single large silver tael, bringing them all back home. All of them would be mine!*

*I wouldn’t even collect your corpse for you.*

But she dared not say these thoughts aloud.

However, as she thought about it, she finally realized something: getting silver from this fellow for free was unlikely.

Where did he get so many annoying principles? Were they really from books? She found every word in the books annoying.

The two were silent for a moment.

Resting on Chen Ping’an’s warm back, Pei Qian remained silent for a long time, then asked softly, “You’re a good person, right? The good people in the world are like you, right?”

Chen Ping’an didn’t answer.

Not far away, the mountain forest shook. A massive creature was rolling away, creating a terrifying sound, with trees constantly snapping and breaking.

It was heading straight for Chen Ping’an. It turned out to be a blue water buffalo with a broken horn, covered in blood, its back torn and raw. The height of this beast’s back was a head taller than a strong adult man. It roared in a human voice, “Get out of the way!”

Chen Ping’an had actually anticipated its path across the small road, so he had stopped.

Although the water buffalo was filled with a savage aura, seemingly surrounded by countless vengeful spirits, obviously accumulated from a battle, Chen Ping’an still didn’t want to act immediately.

The maddened water buffalo’s eyes were bloodshot. It even changed its course, charging ferociously at the conspicuous fellow.

Even if it was at its last gasp, an ordinary person would surely be crushed to pieces by this charge.

Chen Ping’an reached around his shoulder, took the pagoda talisman from Pei Qian’s forehead, and threw it at the beast that had been beaten back to its original form.

Then, in an instant, he drew his sword from its sheath.

And unleashed a single strike.

The blue water buffalo was slowed by the suppressing effect of the talisman and realized something was amiss. As it was about to change course, a sword aura crashed down upon it.

With a loud crash, the massive creature, with eyes as big as copper bells, was split in two.

Sheathing his sword, he retrieved the exhausted talisman, placing it in his sleeve.

Chen Ping’an didn’t even glance at the two halves of the corpse, continuing to walk with the little girl on his back.

In the distance, the rapidly approaching Gold Crest Prefecture Lord, also wounded, stopped near the water buffalo’s corpse. He held the weapon of the great demon, a steel spear, in his hand. The mountain god swallowed nervously, although shocked, not particularly fearful, but with a genuine respect. His expression solemn, he clasped his fist and saluted, “Respectfully seeing off the Immortal Master.”

Chen Ping’an didn’t stop, but turned his head and waved at the upright deity of the land, smiling, “A small matter, not worth mentioning. Next time there’s a feast like this, your prefecture shouldn’t invite just anyone. Although it’s kind, the cultivation path is most afraid of accidents. But if I pass by this place again in the future, I’ll definitely bother you, Prefecture Lord, for a cup of wine.”

Fortune and misfortune seem to be at opposite ends, but they are only separated by a drink and a peck.

The Mountain God Prefecture Lord flushed with shame, “This one is grateful for the teachings.”

After carrying Pei Qian for more than ten miles, Chen Ping’an put her down. The two of them, one tall and one short, one big and one small, looked at each other.

She looked blank, playing dumb.

Chen Ping’an held out his hand.

She frowned and slapped the two Lamp Talismans into Chen Ping’an’s palm, “Can’t you just give me one? I ran so far up the mountain road, and in the end, I really couldn’t run anymore.”

Chen Ping’an slowly walked forward, “Then do better next time.”

The little girl ohhed and silently walked beside him.

Heart of stone.

What a great person, bah, I was blind.

Chen Ping’an grabbed her ear, “It’s not good to say bad things about people in your heart all day long.”

Pei Qian stood on tiptoes, crying out, “I won’t dare anymore, I won’t dare anymore.”

Only then did Chen Ping’an let go.

A moment later, Chen Ping’an grabbed her ear again.

The little girl’s eyes were red, and she vowed, “This time I really won’t dare!”

After walking another ten steps, Chen Ping’an just reached out, and Pei Qian sat down on the ground, wailing loudly.

Chen Ping’an continued to walk forward on his own.

Seeing that he had no intention of stopping, she quickly stopped crying, stood up, and walked forward timidly. To prevent herself from cursing that fellow in her heart, she found a way to control her thoughts: she began to mutter the contents of those books, truly miserable and pitiful.

Chen Ping’an ignored her.

Walking through the vast and lush mountain forest.

Thinking of the Mountain Seal, Chen Ping’an became even more silent.